FALLBROOK  Nick Wallace’s wait for a lifesaving organ donor appeared, for 12 hours, to be over this past weekend.

Nick, who suffers from end-stage liver disease, was rushed late Friday night to UCLA Medical Center, where throughout Saturday morning he was prepped for surgery, given medication, hooked to an IV, X-rayed, examined and had blood drawn.

However, at around 10 a.m., the 12-year-old sixth-grader at Del Mar Hills Academy was informed the organ would go to another boy whose condition was more dire.

“He told the surgeon, ‘I understand. Thank you for trying. Now I can go to the SDSU game,’ which of course they didn’t understand,” said Nick’s mother, Deb Atkin.

At least the game did not disappoint.

Nearly 12 hours later, Nick — a Del Mar resident who has been named the team’s honorary fifth captain — stormed the field at Fallbrook High School with about 40 of his newest friends to celebrate the Aztecs’ thrilling, season-opening, 7-6 quadruple-overtime victory over Cal State Fullerton.

It was a dramatic and happy end to a whirlwind 24 hours for Nick, who started playing lacrosse two years ago, much to his father’s initial dismay. Chris Wallace, 50, had hoped his son would take up golf, a much less physically demanding sport.

But once Nick picked up a stick and learned to cradle, dodge and check, he found his calling.

Love for lacrosse

“When we saw how enthused he was, we didn’t want to ignore it,” Wallace said. “It was a difficult decision, but one we don’t regret. He’s been passionate and energetic about it. It’s been worth every minute.”

Nick has been fitted with special equipment for extra protection, and although it’s far from his favorite position on the field, he plays defense for his San Diego-based club team, RC Starz Silver, because defensemen endure less contact. But Nick doesn’t plan on being on the back line forever.

“After I get my transplant, I’m playing attack,” Nick said.

Nick was diagnosed with biliary atresia, a life-threatening liver disease, when he was just two weeks old. There is no cure, and he underwent a special surgery known as a Kasai procedure at age 3½ weeks.

Despite his disorder, Nick has proved to be a good athlete. He surfs, skis and plays basketball, always being careful to wear the necessary equipment to protect himself, Atkin said.

Lacrosse, however, has become Nick’s sport of choice, and the community has taken to the precocious kid who aspires to one day play at Notre Dame. Until he reaches that point, Nick is thrilled to be hanging out on the San Diego State sideline, where Saturday night, stick in hand, he chatted up and high-fived players throughout a pulsating game.

“He provides someone for us to rally around and realize there’s stuff bigger than lacrosse out there,” San Diego State junior defenseman Troy Dillingham said. “The way he approaches life and his attitude toward everything is really what stands out the most.”

Nick was named honorary captain this year at the invitation of San Diego State head coach Matt Holman, who corresponded with Atkin after a tournament in Palm Springs. Saturday night, after Nick walked to the center of the field for the coin toss, he raised his arms triumphantly toward the crowd when his name was called by the public-address announcer.

As for the toss itself, Nick incorrectly called heads.

“He was disappointed,” Dillingham said. “We told him it was no big deal.”

Two hours, 35 minutes, four quarters and four overtimes later, when the Aztecs fired home the clinching goal and a diminutive blond-haired boy was embracing three-dozen ecstatic collegiate players twice his size, it had been long forgotten.

And after the game ended and the field had been cleared, Nick scooped a ball and started firing shots at a vacated cage until his parents told him it was time to go home.

“My advice for any parent of a kid who is sick is help him find his passion,” said Atkin, 52. “This is what Nick loves, and the whole community came together to help find a way for him to play. Luckily, Nick turned out to be real athletic. He’s a tough kid with some real fortitude.”